Antitheft apparatus for a vehicle

Abstract

An electronic control member for preventing the stealing of a vehicle and an electronic control member for controlling ignition timing of an ignition device formed integrally and disposed in one package to thereby provide an antitheft apparatus for a vehicle which is small, economical, and highly capable of preventing theft. The antitheft apparatus for a vehicle includes an immobilizer, an antitheft electronic control member, an ignition device, a sensor, a remote control member and an alarm member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An antitheft apparatus for detecting an unauthorized operation of a vehicle and thereupon functioning to prevent the vehicle from being stolen, said antitheft apparatus comprising: antitheft electronic control means responsive to a signal generated upon detection of an unauthorized operation of a vehicle for preventing the vehicle from being stolen;   electronic ignition timing control means for controlling authorized ignition timing of an ignition device for starting the engine of the vehicle; and   said antitheft electronic control means being packaged and integrally formed together with said electronic ignition timing control means for preventing unauthorized tampering with either one of said antitheft electronic control means and said electronic ignition control means.   
     
     
       2. The antitheft apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said antitheft electronic control means further includes an electronic circuit portion of a receiver portion of a remote control means for controlling said antitheft apparatus to be at least one of operable and inoperable. 
     
     
       3. The antitheft apparatus according to claim 1, said antitheft apparatus further includes lock means for engaging a structural member of the vehicle to at least one of another structural member of the vehicle and a structural member of a body other than the vehicle, lock control means for controlling said lock means, and alarm means for sounding an alarm upon detection of unauthorized unlocking of said lock means, wherein said lock control means and said antitheft electronic control means are formed integrally. 
     
     
       4. The antitheft apparatus according to claim 2, said antitheft apparatus further includes lock means for engaging a structural member of the vehicle to at least one of another structural member of the vehicle and a structural member of a body other than the vehicle, lock control means for controlling said lock means, and alarm means for sounding an alarm upon detection of unauthorized unlocking of said lock means, wherein said lock control means and said antitheft electronic control means are formed integrally. 
     
     
       5. The antitheft apparatus according to claim 3, said antitheft apparatus further includes connection means for electrically and mechanically connecting thereto a lock cable disengageable by a key operation for engaging the vehicle with a suitable structural member to prevent the same from being stolen and alarm means for sounding an alarm upon detection of breakage of said lock cable, wherein electronic control means of said lock cable and said antitheft electronic control means are formed integrally. 
     
     
       6. The antitheft apparatus according to claim 4, said antitheft apparatus further includes connection means for electrically and mechanically connecting thereto a lock cable disengageable by a key operation for engaging the vehicle with a suitable structural member to prevent the same from being stolen and alarm means for sounding an alarm upon detection of breakage of said lock cable, wherein electronic control means of said lock cable and said antitheft electronic control means are formed integrally. 
     
     
       7. The antitheft apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said antitheft electronic control means includes an electronic circuit portion of a receiving portion of a remote control means for controlling the antitheft apparatus, said antitheft electronic control means and said electronic circuit portion of a receiving portion of a remote control means being formed on a single substrate. 
     
     
       8. The antitheft apparatus according to claim 7, wherein forming said antitheft electronic control means and said electronic circuit portion of a receiving portion of a remote control means for controlling the antitheft apparatus on a single substrate ensures against unauthorized tampering with an input and output of the antitheft electronic control means and the electronic circuit portion of the receiving portion. 
     
     
       9. The antitheft apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said lock control means and said antitheft electronic control means are formed on a single substrate. 
     
     
       10. The antitheft apparatus according to claim 9, wherein forming said lock control means and said antitheft electronic control means on a single substrate ensures against unauthorized tampering with an input and output of the lock control means and the antitheft electronic control means. 
     
     
       11. The antitheft apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said electronic control means of said lock cable and said antitheft electronic control means are formed on a single substrate. 
     
     
       12. The antitheft apparatus according to claim 11, wherein forming said electronic control means of said lock cable and said antitheft electronic control means on a single substrate ensures against unauthorized tampering with an input and output of the electronic control means of the lock cable and the antitheft electronic control means. 
     
     
       13. A method for preventing the theft of a vehicle by detecting an unauthorized operation of a vehicle and thereupon functioning to prevent the vehicle from being stolen, said method comprising the following steps: providing an antitheft electronic control means for responding to a signal generated upon detection of an unauthorized operation of a vehicle for preventing the vehicle from being stolen;   providing an electronic ignition timing control means for controlling authorized ignition timing of an ignition device for starting the engine of the vehicle; and   preventing the starting of the engine of the vehicle based on signals supplied from said antitheft electronic control member to said electronic ignition timing control means, said antitheft electronic control means being packaged and integrally formed together with said electronic ignition timing control means for preventing unauthorized tampering of either one of said antitheft electronic control means and said electronic ignition control means.   
     
     
       14. The method for preventing the theft of a vehicle according to claim 13, and further including the step of providing an electronic circuit portion of a receiver portion of a remote control member for controlling the antitheft electronic control means to be at least one of operable and inoperable. 
     
     
       15. The method for preventing the theft of a vehicle according to claim 13, and further including the step of providing a lock member for engaging a structural member of the vehicle to at least one of another structural member of the vehicle and a structural member of a body other than the vehicle, and providing a lock control means for controlling said lock member, and providing an alarm means for sounding an alarm upon detection of unauthorized unlocking of said lock member, wherein said lock control means and said antitheft electronic control means are formed integrally. 
     
     
       16. The method for preventing the theft of a vehicle according to claim 14, and further including the step of providing a lock member for engaging a structural member of the vehicle to at least one of another structural member of the vehicle and a structural member of a body other than the vehicle, and providing a lock control means for controlling said lock member, and providing an alarm means for sounding an alarm upon detection of unauthorized unlocking of said lock member, wherein said lock control means and said antitheft electronic control means are formed integrally. 
     
     
       17. The method for preventing the theft of a vehicle according to claim 15, and further providing a connection member for electrically and mechanically connecting thereto a lock cable disengageable by a key operation for engaging the vehicle with a suitable structural member to prevent the same from being stolen and providing an alarm means for sounding an alarm upon detection of breakage of said lock cable, wherein an electronic control means for said lock cable and said antitheft electronic control means are formed integrally. 
     
     
       18. The method for preventing the theft of a vehicle according to claim 16, and further including the step of providing an electronic circuit means for a receiving portion of a remote control member for controlling the antitheft electronic control means and forming the antitheft electronic control means and said electronic circuit means being formed on a single substrate. 
     
     
       19. The method for preventing the theft of a vehicle according to claim 13, wherein forming said antitheft electronic control means and said electronic circuit means on a single substrate ensures against unauthorized tampering with an input and output of the antitheft electronic control member and the electronic circuit portion of the receiving portion. 
     
     
       20. The method for preventing the theft of a vehicle according to claim 15, and further including the step of forming said lock control means and said antitheft electronic control means on a single substrate. 
     
     
       21. The method for preventing the theft of a vehicle according to claim 20, wherein forming said lock control means and said antitheft electronic control means on a single substrate ensures against unauthorized tampering with an input and output of the lock control means and the antitheft electronic control means. 
     
     
       22. The method for preventing the theft of a vehicle according to claim 15, and further including the step of forming the electronic control means of said lock cable and said antitheft electronic control means on a single substrate. 
     
     
       23. The method for preventing the theft of a vehicle according to claim 22, wherein forming said electronic control means of said lock cable and said antitheft electronic control means on a single substrate ensures against unauthorized tampering with an input and output of the electronic control means of the lock cable and the antitheft electronic control means.